What Do You See When You Look At Others?

Years ago, I bought a dress for $1.32. Brand spanking new. Of course, it was on clearance, but I didn’t know why I got it for such a good deal. It was so cute!

I came home and wore it to church the next Sunday and was going about my business before services when one of the ladies at church looked at me and said, “Your sailboats are upside-down!”

Startled, I looked at my dress and said, “They are, aren’t they?”

I had never noticed because when I looked down at my dress, everything seemed perfectly normal. And now I was wearing an upside-down sailboat dress, and I had to be at church for three services, up front in the choir. No wonder it was so cheap. I actually prayed that no one else would notice it, even as I laughed a little bit, seeing the humor in it all. I was so proud of my clever purchase, but God has a sense of humor.

A little later, a friend complimented me on my dress, and I quietly asked her if she had noticed the problem. She looked surprised and said no, she had just seen sailboats. We had a little laugh about it, and I moved on. I asked my husband if he had noticed it, and he said no, he thought they were diamonds.

Diamonds? I tried looking at my dress the other way around, and my worries vanished. Diamonds. And in the pattern of the dress, I honestly couldn’t tell if they were diamonds or upside-down sailboats.

How Do You Look At People?

Sometimes people say the most...encouraging...things. I once had a friend who told me I looked tired almost every time she saw me. I began to expect it to be her greeting to me.

Another would tell me almost every time she saw me that I looked a little healthier than I used to, and I would almost laugh because nothing had really changed. I did begin to wonder if something was wrong with me, though!

So, what do you see when you look at people? What do you say to them? Are the first words out of your mouth usually noticing something wrong, a back-handed compliment, or something kind?

Step back and take a look at the way you greet people. Is it the same joke every time about their name, size, or habits? Is it noticing something awkward or wrong about their appearance? (Clarification: broccoli or any other green substance in the teeth is probably okay to quietly and subtly point out)

Gratitude Change Our Perspective

So how does this tie into our series on Gratitude? When we thank God intentionally, we shift from seeing flaws to recognizing gifts.

Gratitude doesn’t mean pretending everything is perfect. It means acknowledging that even in imperfection, God’s grace is still at work. When we live with a grateful spirit, our eyes begin to see diamonds where others might see upside-down sailboats.

Paul reminds us in Colossians 3:15, “And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful.” Gratitude and peace go hand in hand. A thankful heart becomes a peaceful heart because it no longer fixates on what’s missing.

Instead, it rests in what’s already been given. When we choose gratitude, we quiet the noise of comparison, criticism, and complaint, and we make room for God’s peace to rule within us. It’s a practice that transforms not only our outlook but also the way we treat others.

Finally, gratitude draws us closer to God Himself. Psalm 100:4 says, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name.”

Thankfulness is the doorway into His presence. When we approach God with a thankful heart, we are reminded that every good thing we have—every breath, every relationship, every lesson—is a reflection of His goodness. Gratitude turns ordinary moments into opportunities for worship, helping us see God’s hand in the humor, the small mistakes, and the quiet blessings that make life so beautifully human.

So, let your words be filled with grace and kindness. Scratch that. Don’t let it happen; make it happen. Make a conscious effort to speak love from a grateful heart and be an encouragement to the people around you today!